Metallic structure and structural unit



Feb. 2s 192e. 1,574,563

s. E. DUFF l METALLIC STRUCTURE AND STRUCTURAL UNIT Filed Sepb. 6, 19212 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.8,

Feb. 23 1926.

S. E. DUFF METALLIC STRUCTURE AND STRUCTURAL UNvIT Filed sept.

e, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LFIGQ.

INVENTOR Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL E. DUFF, 0F BEN AVON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0ALBERT W. HEINLE, 0F GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

METALLIC STRUCTURE AND STRUCTURAL UNIT.

Application' mea september s, 1921. serial ne. 498,736.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. DUFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ben Avon, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in MetallicStructures and Structural Units, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates broadly to metallic structures and moreparticularly to metallic structural units and constructions producedtherefrom.

An important object of the present inven- .tion is to provide astructural unit having the metal constituting its body disposedto givemaximum strength for the particular purpose which it serves togetherwith a minimum weight.

Another object of the present invention is to produce a malleable metalstructural unit having its width, its thickness, or both its width andthickness progressively, uniformly, intermittently or otherwise varyingthroughout the length thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a finished metallicstructure formed from one or more such structural units in which thecross sectional area varies as'the strength requirement varies.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention,\ together withtheir attendant -advantages, will be apparent as the invention 7becomesbetter understood by reference to the accompanying specification anddrawings, forming a part thereof, it being premised that changes may bemade. in the various details and the manner of operation within thescopeof the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. A

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rolled or forged plate suitable forproducing metallic units or bodies in accordance with the presentinvention Figure 2 is a perspective view -of a modified form of platehaving both its width and thickness varying throughout the length;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through a hollow metallic bodyproduced in vaccordance with. the present invention;` y

Figures 4 and'5 are crosssectional views on the lines IV--IV and Y-V,respectively, of Figure 3'; Figure' 6 is a longitudinall sectional viewthrough a modified form of hollow body;

Figures 7 and 8 are cross sectional views 'en the linee vir-vii andvin-vnr, re-

spectively, of Figure 6;

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are vertical sectional views through otherforms of hollow bodies constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

Figure 13 isa perspective view of a structural unit embodying thepresent invention; Figures 14 and 15 are cross sectional views on thelines XIV-XIV and XV-XV, respectively, of Figure 13; and

Figure `16 is a longitudinal section '1ll lustrating. a furthermodification.

The present invention within the terni metallic structures or hollowbodies, comprises pipes, stacks, poles, masts,.ta.nks and other similarconstructions having their walls formed of rolled or forged iron orsteel or of copper, aluminum, orany other metal, combination or alloy ofmetals which can be shaped by forging or rolling and which in my claimsI term worked metal. Within the term structural units, the presentinvention includes plates, angle bars, channel bars, tubes, beams andsimilar bodies adapted for use in building construction formed frominitially rolled or fibrous metals as before set forth, which initiallyrolled or fibrous metals are subsequently rolled or forged into thefinal desired shape.

At the present time metallic structures, hollow bodies, and structuralunits produced from-rolled or fibrous metals, have a sub stantiallyuniform thickness throughout the entire length thereof. Necessarily, theminisections in which either the diameter or the thickness or bothchange with successive sections. With all such metallic structures theremust necessarily be provided an eX- thereof, it will cess of materialbeyond that required to support the varying load requirements, and thisexcess of material involves added weight and increased manufacturingcost.

By the present invention the disadvantages and objections which havebeen raised in connection with such articles are overcome by providingthe metal body composing such units or structures with a cross sec tionvarying in accordance with the load requirements. This variance may bedetermined mathematically by iguring load, weight, stresses and thelike, or may be approximated from practical engineering experlence.

I am aware that heretofore attempts have been made to construct hollowbodies and units inthe form of castings, and make no claim to any suchconstructions, this invention being limited entirely to rolled or forgedmetallic structures formed initially from a rolled plate or shape. l

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figures3, 4 and 5 a hollow pole or post 1, the walls of which are formed from asingle length of material bent into curved shape and having its edges 2welded or otherwise secured. By forming such pole or post fnom a platetapering throughout the length thereof and having a thickness varyingthroughout the length be obvious that the finished structure` has themetal disposed in such manner that a maximum strength is affordedadjacent the bottom thereof where it must support the maximum load andis subjected to the maximum strains. From the bottom the thickness ofits walls may vary continuously, progressively or intermittently as maybe desired. Plates useful for producing hollow bodies of this nature maybe advantageously formed in accordance with the disclosure of theco-pending application of Albert W. Heinle, Serial No. 494,817, tiledAugust 24th, 1921, or in any other desired manner by rolling or forging.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification there is illustrated a hollow beam constructed of twostructural units 3 and 4 in the form of angle bars, the thickness ofwhose walls varies throughout the length thereof to provide a finishedbeam possessing the desired characteristics.

In Figure 9 there-is illustrated in vertical section a structure adaptedfor use either as a tank for containing liquids or, when reduced indiameter, as a pole or post. In this form of the invention, the finishedstructure is formed from a series of plates 5, 6 and 7, each formed intoa band and each having a length equal to the width of the band which itis desired to produce and a width equal to the circumference of theband, or, if necessary, two or more plates may be lap-welded,butt-welded, or otherwise secured together to provide a band having thenecessary dimensions. In each case, the bands` all have the thicknessthereof varying throughout the width. By reason of this constructionthere is provided a tank, oriother article, having a minimum amount ofmetal so disposed as to withstand the strains to which it is subjected.

In Figure 10 there is illustrated in vertical section a similar4metallic structure composed of a single length of material, thethickness of which varies in suchmanner as to produce a curved outerwall 8, and a straight inner wall 9. A4 length of material suitable forproducing this form of my invention may be formed by ing a body ofmalleable metal having the desired properties.

The construction illustrated in Figure 11 comprises a straight outerwall l0.and a tapered inner wall 11, while the construction illustratedin Figure 12 comprises curved inner and outer walls 12.

In Figures 13 to 15, both inclusive, there is disclosed a compositestructural unit comprising two channel members 13, each varying inthickness throughout the entire length thereof and suitably securedtogether to form an I-beam or similar structure.

In certain cases it may be desirable to produce a hollow body having thethickness of its walls increasing toward each end thereof and decreasingtoward an intermediate point. Such a construction is illustrated inFigure 16.

With all of the forms of the invention illustrated herein, it will beapparent that the distinguishing feature is the utilization of amalleable metal unit having either the thickness or both the thicknessand the width thereof varying continuously, progressively, uniformly,intermittently or otherwise in accordance with the strengthrequirements. Preferably such initially rolled units of metal may befinally shaped by rolling, as the disposition of metal in this mannermay be accurately controlled.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision ofstructural units or metallic bodies having a minimum weight and amaximum strength produced by varying the thickness of the metal or thewidth thereof as may be desired, or both.

I claim:

1. A structural unit formed -of a worked metal plate having its libresextended in the direction of its elongation during the forming of theplate and having a substantially gradual variable wall thickness alongthefibres, said plate being bent along the forging orv ro1lplane of itsibres to form the unit, substanthickness along the fibres, said platesbeing tially as described. bent along their fibres and secured to each2. A structural unit formed of a pluralit other, substantially asdescribed. 10 of worked metal plates, the fibres in eac In testimonywhereof I have hereunto 5 plate extending in the direction of itselongaset my hand.

tion during the forming of the plate and having a substantially gradualVariable Wall SAMUEL E. DUFF.

